Nāgasvaram
also known as: nāḍasvaram · nagaswaram
Double-reed instrument about 75 cm long, made of acha wood with a flared metal bell. Seven finger holes plus five drone holes (which the player can plug with wax to alter the scale). Loud enough to project across temple courtyards. Players use circular breathing to sustain phrases.
Family
Wind
Role
Temple / ceremonial
Exponents listed
4
Origin
Tamil Nadu — the principal temple wind instrument of South India
History & significance
The nāgasvaram is the temple wind par excellence — loud, expressive, and built to project across crowded festival grounds. The two-player ensemble (melody + drone) plus tavil percussion is the canonical 'periya mēḷam' that accompanies every major Hindu temple event in Tamil Nadu.
T.N. Rajarathinam Pillai (1898–1956) was the figure who elevated the instrument from a strictly liturgical role to art-music status. His concerts at the Madras Music Academy in the 1930s and 40s established the nāgasvaram as a legitimate concert instrument equal to vocal music — a position it has held since.
In a Carnatic concert
Performed in pairs — one playing melody, the other a drone (sūr) — accompanied by tavil percussion. Central to Hindu temple festivals, processions, and weddings ('māṅgalya vādya'). Also a concert art form in its own right since the early 20th century.
Exponents· 4
T.N. Rajarathinam Pillai
1898–1956Sangita Kalanidhi (1947); raised the nāgasvaram to art-music status; defining 20th-century voice on the instrument.
Sheik Chinna Moulana
1924–1999Padma Shri (1975), Padma Bhushan (1991); among the rare non-Hindu musicians honoured for temple-tradition music; founder of his own bāṇi.
Karukurichi Arunachalam
1921–1964Brilliant virtuoso; immensely popular before his early death.
Namagiripettai Krishnan
1924–2001Lifelong temple and concert performer; senior representative of his tradition.